North State Voices: Lessons await at every destination

Over the years, I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to do a great deal of traveling with my family.

I have gone swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, attended a graduation ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, ridden horses on the beach in Oregon, fished the rivers of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley in Alaska, toured the Castillo de San Marcos in Florida, walked through the home of Edgar Allan Poe in Maryland, seen a Broadway musical in New York City, been to the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower in Chicago, taken flowers to the grave of Jim Morrison in Paris, and witnessed the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in London.

Some of the places I have visited, I would love to return to in the future. My feelings toward others are, "Been there, done that, no need to go back."

And yet, I made unforgettable memories in each, met amazing people, and experienced things I never imagined.

I also learned that, no matter where I went, each place had its own unique culture and customs.

In England, for example, I discovered that people use their knife and fork for everything. Accustomed to such things being considered finger food back in the States, I used my hands to eat a sandwich, a cupcake and a plate of chicken nuggets. Only after did I realize that I was supposed to use my silverware to both cut and consume my meals.

In France, dinner is not simply a meal, it is also a time for socialization. Several minutes may pass between ordering, being served, and receiving the bill. In America, waiters tend to drop the check off at the table once it becomes clear that the diners are not likely to require anything else, but in French restaurants, one has to ask before it is brought. There is no sense of having to rush to finish eating and leave because you are expected to sit, talk and enjoy the company of others while you wait.

In my home state of Alaska, it is not the least bit unusual to find salmon jerky, caribou sausage and moose meat in the grocery store. In the villages where ancient traditions are still practiced, Eskimo women make ice cream with seal oil, fry bread with bear grease, and put fish eyes in their soup.

In Alaskan gift shops, unique trinkets such as shot glasses etched with designs of wolves, miniature carved totem poles, CDs of Native singing and drumming, state flags, ulus, and postcards featuring the Aurora Borealis can be found. You will even see jewelry, children's toys, and Christmas tree ornaments made from moose droppings that have been dried, sealed and painted.

In Hawaii, although the islands have been largely Americanized and turned into a tourist trap, traces of the original people remain. Hulas keep the food, mythology, music and dance of the Hawaiians alive. Historical societies preserve the residences of the royal family and remnants from old plantations for visitors to walk through. And even if it is sadly a very small number, there are still about 800 people who are fluent in the old language.

These are only a few examples of the cultural differences I have noticed in my travels, but I'm sure you get the picture.

This world really is a melting pot, and even if you are just taking a day trip to another town in your own state, you can see signs of the fascinating tapestry of traditions that is constantly being woven around us as more and more people come together in the community.